Don’t ignore evidence on fluoride

The voters of Edgartown will decide whether the town public water supply should be fluoridated during the annual town election next week. — Courtesy Pexels

To the Editor:

The Newburgh-Kingston Fluorine-Caries Trial, considered one of, if not the most extensive fluoride experiments, began in 1945. Ten years later the study showed a demonstrable reduction in cavities, with the Newburgh students receiving fluoridated water compared with the students in Kingston, whose water was not fluoridated. Fifty years later, however, the rate of dental decay in Newburgh was virtually the same as it was in Kingston.

In 1939 the U.S. Department of Agriculture said due to interfering with the calcification of teeth, fluoride should be avoided during tooth formation in children from birth to age 12. In 1943 the American Medical Association warned in the JAMA that fluorides are protoplasmic poisons which modify cell metabolism, and inhibit certain enzymes in drinking water containing as little as 1 ppm.

In 1944 the American Dental Association itself wrote an editorial stating, “Our knowledge of the subject certainly does not warrant the introduction of fluorine in community water supplies.” “We do know that the use of drinking water containing as little as 1.2 ppm to 3 ppm of fluorine will cause such developmental disturbances in bones as osteosclerosis, spondylitis, and osteopetrosis, as well as goiter.” Yet despite all of these publicized findings, extensive experiments were conducted on schoolchildren.

Detrimental effects to the central nervous system from fluoride were suspected as early as 1944, as indicated in a memo to Col. Stanford Warren, head of the Manhattan Project’s medical section. In fact, in 1995, Neurotoxicology & Teratology printed a study which revealed findings of central nervous system disruptions in rats, and that fluoride actually crosses the blood-brain barrier with chronic exposure.

Dental fluorosis, also known as bone sclerosis, is a biomarker for systemic fluoride poisoning. In 2010 the CDC found that 41 percent of children aged 12 to 15 exhibit fluorosis. This finding was a crucial factor in the decision to lower water fluoridation levels from 1.2 ppm to 0.7 ppm. In 1992, the JAMA published a study which found that water fluoridation was associated with an increase in hip fractures. Today the United States has one of the highest rates of hip fractures in the world, and an epidemic of arthritis in 21 million Americans.

It is no surprise that early studies from 1945 showed dramatic decreases in cavities, as the first clinically proven fluoride-containing toothpaste, Crest, wasn’t made available until 1955. Since then, a number of additional modalities to apply fluoride to teeth are also readily available; rinses, flosses, varnishes, etc.

It is not necessary to ingest fluoride systemically, and there are numerous ways to protect the teeth topically. Additionally, fluoride is classified by the FDA as a drug which is toxic at varying levels, depending on the age and health of each individual. Community water fluoridation is medication of the population with no control or knowledge of the dose being administered or ingested. Would we do this with with any other drug?

There are a lot of unknowns regarding potential effects fluoride could have on our bodies. Even the ADA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the AMA have changed their findings throughout the years. One thing we do know, though, is that the community water supply in Edgartown, the way it is right now, is virtually pure and the envy of many. Let’s not alter or experiment with it. Leave our pure water source alone. Vote no on Question 6.

20 COMMENTS

Notice that promoters of this poisonous drug, fluoride, never discuss the ethics or morality of forcing EVERYONE to consume fluoride without consent, something a doctor or dentist cannot legally do.

Also notice that no one is trying to stop them from taking this poison individually , as much as they like in their own glass of water.

Then notice that they cannot produce one scientific study to show safety. There are no studies (NOT ONE) showing that fluoride (hydrofluorosilicic acid) is safe and effective for all members of the public; fetuses, infants, children, sensitive, kidney problems (pre-diabetics & diabetics), elderly, etc.

ADA is a trade association; it has an economic mission to support dentists – not a medical or research mission. The IAOMT is an association of dentists, doctors & toxicologists with a scientific mission. They oppose any fluoride use based on scientific evidence of harm.

Here are reports by four dentists on the dangers of fluoride. There are many more just like them. “The evidence that fluoride is more harmful than beneficial is now overwhelming… fluoride may be destroying our bones, our teeth, and our overall health.” – Dr. Hardy Limeback BSc, PhD, DDS, former President of Canadian Association of Dental Research, former head of Preventative Dentistry at the Univ of Toronto, 2006 National Research Council panelist (2007)

“If teeth are the only reason why you like fluoride, you better come up with a different reason. Fluoride hurts teeth, bones, brain, nerves, etc.” – Michael Taras, DMD, FAGD (2015) “When I looked at the research, it was like a knee in the gut. My bias was I thought (fluoridation) was safe and effective because I had not looked at the research.” – Dr. Bill Osmunson, DDS, MPH (2016) “Fluorides make the germs in the mouth sick, and they’ll make the kid sick, too.” – Dr. David Kennedy DDS MPH, 3rd generation dentist and past president of IAOMT (2016)

After 70 years of use, it is obvious that fluoridation has failed. So why risk children’s IQ and people’s health on this toxic industrial waste fluoride?

The Journal of the American Dental Association (Dye 2017) reports, “65% of poor 6-8 year-olds and 12-15 year-olds have cavities in their primary and permanent teeth, respectively. More than 40% of children have dental cavities by the time they reach kindergarten. “… there has been little improvement in preventing caries initiation,” said Dye. “Childhood tooth decay is the #1 chronic childhood illness in America.”

Quote: “Untreated dental caries in the primary dentition decreased (24% versus 14%) for children aged 2 to 8 years regardless of poverty status from the period from 1999 through 2004 to the period from 2011 through 2014. Severe caries in primary teeth decreased between the period from 1999 through 2004 and the period from 2011 through 2014 for 2- to 8-year-olds (10% versus 6%). Among preschool-aged children in families with low incomes, caries experience decreased from nearly 42% to 35%, and untreated caries decreased from 31% to 18%. Furthermore, there were significant reductions in the number of carious dental surfaces and significant increases in the number of restored dental surfaces. Overall, there was little change in the prevalence of caries in older children and adolescents.”

Quote: “The prevalence of caries in primary teeth in preschool-aged children has improved in the previous decade in the United States; however, the prevalence of having no caries experience in permanent teeth in children and adolescents remains unchanged.”

Fluoridated water and foods prepared with fluoridated water are medically contraindicated for many with inflammatory, immune system, thyroid & kidney disease. It is an immoral act to add a known poison to the water in the believe it ‘may’ help some when it is known it is harming the health of others. Brush your teeth with it if you want….buy a gallon at the store for a buck if you don’t believe fluoridated tooth paste is sufficient.

More power to you if fluoridation doesn’t bother you, but not the power to assume it’s safe for your neighbor with kidney disease, his pregnant wife or their diabetic daughter!

Moreover, the IAOMT is a professional organization committed to critical analysis of scientific research. Their 2017 position paper against any fluoride use contains over 500 citations. Access that complete paper from their webpage: https://iaomt.org/resources/fluoride-facts/

2 2017 in Environmental Health Perspectives. Prenatal Fluoride Exposure and Cognitive Outcomes in Children at 4 and 6–12 Years of Age in Mexico..(low doses consistent with ‘optimal’ result in lowered IQ) https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/ehp655/

4 2015 in Toxicological Sciences. Modifying Effect of COMT Gene Polymorphism and a Predictive Role for Proteomics Analysis…. (Gene predicts individuals sensitive to fluoride poisoning at lower concentrations in water which manifest as dental fluorosis and learning deficits) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25556215

5 2015 in Environmental Health. Exposure to fluoridated water and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder prevalence among children and adolescents in US….. (even adjusted for SES in 84 regions of US, fluoridated communities have much higher incidences diagnosed of hyperactivity) http://www.ehjournal.net/content/14/1/17/abstract

6 2014 in Toxicology. Effect of water fluoridation on the development of medial vascular calcification in uremic rats. (“Optimal levels” worsen kidney function): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24561004

7 2015 in Neurotoxicology and Teratology. Association of lifetime exposure to fluoride and cognitive functions in Chinese children: A pilot study. (Children with visible dental fluorosis perform less well on memory tasks, correlating with the degree of severity of their fluorosis. One of a series of human and animal studies with the same consistent findings.): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25446012 and http://braindrain.dk/2014/12/mottled-fluoride-debate/

8 2014 in Physiology and Behavior. Fluoride exposure during development affects both cognition and emotion in mice. (Measurable behavioral changes): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24184405

9 2014 in International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health. A new perspective on metals and other contaminants in fluoridation chemicals. (All samples of fluoride are contaminated with aluminum, plus other contaminants like arsenic, lead and barium); http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24999851

10 2014 in Scientific World Journal. Water Fluoridation: A Critical Review of the Physiological Effects of Ingested Fluoride as a Public Health Intervention. (Health risks and cost don’t justify minimal and questionable dental benefit.): http://www.hindawi.com/journals/tswj/2014/293019/

At work so don’t have time to research all. IAOMT values holistic over scientific. That’s a significant difference and should discount them immediately. PubMed / National Center for Biotechnology Information; their references have a curious way of coming from themselves. Not promising.

One study/paper does not substantiate. I found two ADA papers on fluoride and osteoporosis; needs a bit more peer review but researchers know their role is not simply come up with new findings, they must also validate what others have found. And mice? Everything gives lab mice cancer.

I’m an analyst. I’ve read hundreds of papers, beginning with the pro-F material promoted by ADA & CDC. That’s what really alerted me to the problem. Choice of language and conclusions not supported by the content of the studies were quite obvious. Moreover, their citations were often just opinion pieces.

Discounting the IAOMT because they are ‘holistic’ is a logical fallacy. Look at the compilation of PubMed citations in their position paper – over 500 valid citations support their conclusion. And the IAOMT isn’t the only organization opposed.

Look at the quotes on the last page of this 2016 item that also includes citations, albeit of a mix of science and historical references. Michael Kohn who signed along with Erin Brockovich & Bob Bowcock is an ‘elite’ whistleblower attorney. He fought the EPA on fluoride whistleblowing twice on behalf of Dr. Wm. Marcus and won twice, not that it made the difference it should have nationally. Dr. Marcus is quoted on the last page: http://fluoridealert.org/wp-content/uploads/brockovich-2016.pdf

By the way, I’ve had conversations with several local ADA dentists who privately do not hesitate to say that fluoridation is not beneficial but refuse to say a word publicly for fear of repercussions. The IAOMT’s mission is scientific education. That IAOMT say we are overdosed by fluoride is supported by empirical evidence as 2011-12 NHANES data documents over half of teens have dental fluorosis – evidence of overdose, and it isn’t cause we’ve suddenly started swallowing toothpaste. Toothpaste was largely fluoridated since 1970 and essentially all fluoridated sometime in the 1980s.

Moderate-severe dental fluorosis in American teens which is brown stains on at least two brittle teeth afflicted 1 in 100 in the 80s; 1 in 25 ten years ago; and 1 in 5 as of 2011-12 per US govt. It disproportionately afflicts non-whites because of genetics and the poor because of malnutrition.